Re: Questions from Memphis - Lipase & Amylase Levels

[Guest guest]

Hi Shelia,

My high enzymes were found on accident. I work for a lab that was expanding

and starting a new clinical lab, so they gave employees a free screening

which helped them validate all their new equipment. I was completely

surprised when they told me I had high lipase and amylase. So they repeated

them to make sure they were accurate and then sent me to my regular doctor

were they repeated them again at a different lab and they were all still

high. I am otherwise healthy (Age 34). I get nausea sometimes and pain under

my right rib cage. One year before I had an extreme attack of pain on my

right side going around to my back, the worse I had ever had. At that time

they said I only had a urinary tract infection (which I had no symptoms for)

and they never tested me for any possibility that that could have been a

pancreatitis attack. I never even thought there might have been something

wrong with my pancreas at that time, but now looking back it may have been an

acute attack.

So now I have a GI specialist and they are doing all these test which are all

coming back normal. Normal CT, ultrasound, normal mammogram. But my enzymes

are still staying high Lipase was 308 about 2 weeks ago. Some people here say

that the levels can get a lot higher even in the high hundreds and thousands.

One person told me that the pain usually starts at around 350. So all I know

is that my enzymes since January have been in the 300 ranges for lipase and

100 range for amylase. What scares me is that I don't know how long these

enzymes have been this high and if there is damage to my pancreas or

something else.

I have never gone to the ER like a lot of people here with pain do. I don't

really know when I should go I just am tolerating the pain because it is

consistent but mild.

I am wondering if it is the gallbladder because I thought that was on the right

side but the CT SCAN did not show any stones. So right now I have not

officially been diagnosed with pancreatitis. One thing that my GI said may be a

rare possibility is that I might have macrolipasemia. This is a rare condition

when the kidneys don't filter out the lipase molecule because for some reason

the broken down lipase molecule is binding onto something else and cannot be

filtered out. He says it is a benign finding and I will not be damaged by it

but he says unfortunately they don't have a commercial test for it anymore

because it is so rare.

Sorry I was rambling on just wanted to let you know what my experience has

been. Your doctor should be able to tell you what you levels

were. I am not experienced to give you the answers to your question I which I

was but I don't want to give you incorrect information. and

Gail West here are very knowledgeable and I am sure can answer your

questions. If you need to vent or anything please feel free any time. I can

appreciate your frustration. I think this group has been a great support.

Take Care,

Diane